Torture, Bin Laden’s death and a US empire

Pakistan, Abbottabad: A Pakistani resident stands near a wall bearing the graffiti 'Osama bin Town' near the hideout house of slain Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following his death by US Special Forces in a ground operation in Abbottabad May 6, 2011. (AFP Photo / Aamir Qureshi) / AFP

Following Osama Bin Laden’s death some have pointed to the mission as a success of US military might and the use of torture as an interrogation tactic.

Some George W. Bush era and other Republican officials have argued the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” were successful and paramount in the process of locating Bin Laden. Such tactics include methods deemed elsewhere as torture – namely waterboarding.

However, there is no proof waterboarding or any other so-called “enhanced interrogation technique” was used to locate Bin Laden. In fact, most experts say they were not.

Jacob Hornberger, the president of The Future of Freedom Foundation said torture is not the answer and the current focus should be more on the killing of Bin Laden and what to expect next – nothing different.

“The killing of Osama Bin Laden is not going to change anything. They don’t intend it to change anything,” he noted. “The terror alerts have gone up since he was killed.”

The war on terrorism is perpetual, Hornberger explained. One man killed does not change much of anything. Terrorism remains and US policies remain the same. The will use this excuse to continue to expand US domination and infringe on civil liberties.

“It’s all about the US empire and the so-called right of the empire to dominate the world,” he said. “That’s the root of this thing.”

“There’s only one way to stop all this, get the troops out of everywhere,” Hornberger added.

The American people must confront the existence of an America empire and press against the US government. Only the American people, via a war of ideas, can change their government.

“Ideas have power,” he remarked, arguing that through people the power of ideas like freedom can end the empire.